Front support members and bellows mounting means for photographic cameras



O. STEINER MEMBERS Dec. 15, 1953 D BELLOWS MOUNTING MEANS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERAS Original Filed May 1, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FRONT SUPPORT zzvmvron OSCAR STU/v0? DEC. 15, 1953 o. STEINER 2,652,456 FRONT SUPPORT MEMBERS AND BELLOWS MOUNTING MEANS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERAS Original Filed May 1, 1947 s sneaks-sheet 2 Dec. 15, T INER O. S E FRONT SUPPORT MEMBERS AND BELLOWS MOUNTING MEANS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERAS V Original Filed May 1, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ftjpn? WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII! INVENTOR.

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Dec. 15, 1953 BELLOWS MOUNTING HOTOGRAPHIC CAMERAS MEANS FOR P Qngmal Filed May 1, 1947 INVENTOR. 05 CA I? 5 Tf/A/f/P 5 5 u w 6 mm "D W 2 e e L G s N I 5 T W m mm m MC EC R M EDP NA [A E W mmm OE M Dec. 15, 1953 FRONT SUPPORT Original Filed May 1, lQ IE FOR P INVENTOR. Os CA r STAV/Vfr? BY fi UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRONT SUPPORT MEMBERS AND BELLOWS MOUNTING MEANS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERAS Oscar Steiner, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Graflex, Inc., Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Original application May 1, 1947, Serial No.

45,182, now Patent No. 2,575,197, dated November 13, 1951. Divided and this application November 25, 1949, Serial No. 129,320

9 Claims. (CI. 9550) This application is a division of my co-pending shown at 3!, a view finder peep sight at 32, and.

application Ser. No. 745,182, filed May 1, 1947, bed supporting side arms at 33, 33. Mounted now Patent No. 2,575,197. upon the front track 26 are front support mem- This. invention relates to front support members 34, 34 having a U-formation, as shown in bars and bellows mounting means for photo- Fig. 2. Attached to said members 3 1 by means of graphic cameras. rivets 35, 35 are swing members 36, best shown In order that the principle of, the invention in Figs. 4 and 5, having a channel formation in drawings wherein 1-;- with studs 38 that pass through grooves or slots Fig. 1 is a. right-hand, side elevation of the 39 in said swing members 35, as shown in Fig. 5. camera showing it in. open condition and the The lens board support member 3'! can be adbellows fully extended; justed in a vertical direction and can be locked in Fig. 2 is a front elevation of Fig. 1. place by clamp nuts 40, 40, Fig. l. The swing Fig 3 is an elevation of the camera front it members are pivoted at the shoulder rivets 35 and mounted onthe camera track, the track being are free to rotate thereon within th li it of a removed from t camera, b d; slot 4! in the lower end of each of the swing i 4.1 an enlarged detail in elevation of the members 36, as shown in Fig. 5. The swing calmeralfront; members 36 are clamped in any desired Or se- Fig. 5. is a detail on, a reduced scale of one of 2.) lected position by means of the two clamp nuts the swing members; 42 threaded onto studs 43, as shown in Figs. 2

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail through Fig. 2 on the and 7. line 66 thereof; The r Fig. 7 isa vertical section through Fig. 4 on the ed 25 by means of rails 44, 44 provided t line 7 thereof; 25 rooves into which key s of t front track Fig 8 is a Section t Fig 3. on @1 lin member fit. The rear track 27 is provided with 8-8 thereof, clearly showing the construction of 2 8 i that are held to the camera box by the lens board in place; 52 also retain the rear hinged member =3 that is Fig. 91s a vertical section through the camera box, clearly showing the construction of the bel- The falls are Provided With dowels 54 p plows frame and the mounting of the bellows E YS DOSitiOII the a s 51 to the hinged memthereto; er

Figs. 10, 11. and 12 are details of, the. means for Refelllng Figs; 2 d 4 t0 8, the lens board accurately positioning the camera front. shlpport member, a ed generally at 37 in While not limited to such type, the invention Flgs- 3 and 8, is made up of two pan-shaped hereindisclosedis a folding camera of the charmembers 55, 67, best illustrated s. 6, '7 and actez shown in the United States patents to Osca 3, Whlch y a so be desci bed as bein each of Stemen. No 2,233,354, Februaiy 1941 No, general f gu ar form in section across th 2,264,777, December 2, 19.41, and No. 2,282,263, 40 e e W1th t n p r h ral edges, as shown May 5, 1942.. 111 a 6, s a s n on the line t e of m The camera box of a folding type of camera is 2 6 members 56 6 each has the f and the cam-erarear trackat 21. 59 It will be noted that in Fig. 6

The camera tracks 26 and 2]" are tied together provided between the inner ed by means of a pair. of links 28, 28 having pivots D aped member 66 a d t 29, 29. The camera track 26 is provided with the inner or rear pan-shaped 68, shown in F1 .7 1 quently. A front view finder Sliding member i which is fitted the lens board 5%, $21

mounting plate or member is also fitted to the lens board support member 31 and is indicated at 10, Figs. 6, 7 and 8. The pan-shaped members 66 and 81 and the bellows mounting plate or member 10 are held together by a series of shoulder screws 1| and nuts 12. The an-shaped members 63 and 61 are suitably held apart by spacers 13. Also held to the lens board support member 31 by the shoulder screw H are the upper and lower lens board locking members or slide locks 14 and 14a, Figs. 3 and 8, having angular slots 15 to guide the said locking members or slide locks 14 and 14a into position for locking the lens board. The locking member 14a is shown in Fig. 3 in unlocked condition and the locking member 112 is shown in Fig. 3 in locked condition. In order to put the lens board in place, the locking member 14 is moved to the left, viewing Fig. 2, and the locking member 1400 is moved to the right. When in place, the locking member 14 is moved to the right, viewing Fig. 2, and the locking member 14a is moved to the left. Due to the angularity of the slots 15, the locking members 14 and 14a will be caused to move in an inward direction, thus clamping the lens board in place.

In Fig. 3, the slide lock or looking member 14 is, as stated, shown in locked condition, and the slide lock or looking member 1411. is in the unlocked condition. To the vertical walls of the lens board support member 31, pan-shaped members 66 and 61, are attached opposite reinforcing members 16, shown in Fig. 7, and to said reinforcing member 16 is attached a stud 38, Fig. 7, previously referred to. Each said stud 38 passes through holes in the panshaped members 66 and 61 into the grooves or slots 39 in the swing members and provides means for attaching the lens board support member 31 to the swing members 36. The lens board support member 31 can be moved in a vertical direction by loosening the nuts 40, and movboard support assembly in within the distance established by the grooves or slots 39 and then can be held in that position by the clamp nuts 40.

In Fig. 2 is shown a metal frame view finder made up of two U-shaped members. The upper U-shaped member 3!, previously referred to, collapses into a second U-shaped member 11. In Fig. 2, the view finder is shown in the erected condition for use, wherein the U-shaped member 3I has been extended, as has also the U-shaped member 11, and the peep sight member 32, previously referred to, has been placed in the erected position. The said peep sight member 32 is pivoted on a screw 3211. on the camera back, as shown in Figs. 1 and 9. The construction is such that the peep sight member 32 can be rotated about such screw 32a, to a folded position.

The u-shaped member 11 is of a channel formation and the U-shaped member 3I is fitted into the said channel, as most clearly shown in Fig. 4. When the u-shaped member 3I has been assembled with the U-shaped member 11, they are fitted to openings in the lens board support member 31, as most clearly shown in Fig. '1.

On the U-shaped member 3I, there are marked certain index lines of which there are shown in Fig. 4 the line 81 corresponding to the fifteenfoot position and the line 98 corresponding to the six-foot position. Each of the two detents 02 is provided with a housing 99, Fig. '1, made as a short tube and into which is fitted the corresponding detent 92, one on either side of the the lens board is formed by the camera, the left one only being shown. A coil spring I00 tends to force the detents 92 in an outward direction to engage the holes provided therefor in the U-shaped member 11. Each tube 33 is held in position by a spring member IOI, most clearly shown in Fig. '7.

As previously stated, the front support members 34, 34 are of a u-shaped formation, as most clearly shown in Fig. 3. The two vertical arms 3d, 34 are tied together by a cross or horizontal member 34a which has also built thereto a clamp mechanism for clamping the camera front to the front track 26.

Again referring to Fig. '7, underneath the cross member 33a is a plate I02 having downwardly extending portions on both sides of the camera and indicated at I03, I03. Fitted into a suitable hole in the plate I02 and projecting through a slot I04 of the cross member 34a is a shoulder rivet I05 having a head I00. To the lower end of the said shoulder rivet I05 is attached a clamp member I01. While only one such clamp member I01 is shown, there is one on each side of the camera. Mounted on the cross member 34a is a cam or clamp plate I08 having a lever handle I09. The cam or clamp plate I08 is provided with a shoulder screw IIO that passes through said cam or clamp plate I08 and through the plate I02, and on its lower end is fitted a nut III. The cam or clamp plate I08 is provided with indentations or recesses II2 into which are fitted balls H3, Fig. 7. When the cam or clamp plate I08 is in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 7, the balls H3 are in the indentations H2 of the cam or clamp plate I08, and the camera will be in unclamped position, and therefor can be moved along the front track 26, but when the lever handle I09 is turned either to the right or to the left, the balls II3 will be pushed downward out of the indentations II2 of the cam or clamp plate I08 and against the clamp member I01, thus clamping the camera front to the front track 26. An opening for the balls H3 is provided in the plate I02, as most clearly shown in Fi '7.

It is desirable, with respect to a camera with a tilted front, as herein disclosed, to have means for positioning the front of the camera in parallel with the back thereof. To provide means of doing this very accurately, there is fitted into each front support 34 (Figs. 4, 7, 10, 11 and 12) a bolt having an eccentric head I Is that passes through such support members 34, the opposite end of which is provided with a nut I I5. Since the head of the bolt H4 is in an eccentric position with respect to the body of the bolt when the bolt is turned, a different position will be assumed by the head of the bolt Ila, thus providing means accurately to stop the swing member 36 when the correct position is found. The nut H5 is then tightened and the camera front will thus always be stopped in a direct vertical position (see Figs. 10, 11 and 12), because of the periphery of the head of the bolt I It engages the side of the swing member 36.

Referring to Fig. l, the side arms 33 are attached to ears H6, H5 of the camera bed 25 by means of rivets H1, H1. The side arm plate I20, Fig. 9, is provided at each side with tangent or offset grooves or formations I24, I25. As the camera is opened, the coiled side springs (not shown) cause the side arms 33 to be turned in a direction to engage the said tangent formations. When the groove or the camera bed will be in a horizontal position,

formation I25 is engaged,

and when the groove or the horizontal with respect to the camera box 2e. thus providing means for the use of wide angle lenses. When the camera bed is closed, it is held by a bed latch that is provided therefor and not herein shown.

Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, the camera box is provided at the back with a bellows mounting plate 123 that is fitted into the said camera box being held to the mounting plate I28 by a rectan ular channel member 529 that securely clamps the bellows to said plate F28. The front end of the bellows 2c is clamped to bellows mountin member means of a second rectangular member 1353, Figs. 6 and 8. This rovides novel me us for attaching a camera bellows to the front the back of the camera at the time, providesan absolutely li ht-ti ht construction.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of the invention. it to b understood that although s ecific terms are em loyed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for urposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a photo raphic camera of the folding type, a rectangular lens board having a peripheral flange extending substantially right angularly therefrom, and a r ctangular lens board support member therefor, said lens board support member being composed of two rectangularly-shaped open frame members, one of which is of slightly larger area than the other, for internestin together, and each having inner and oral flanges facing those of the other when the said two open frame members are positioned, the outer flanges of two open frame members being telescoped upon and engaging each other in internesting relation, when positioned, and the inner flan es of said two open frame members, when positioned, being spaced sufficiently apart to receive between them said peripheral flanges of the said rectangular lens board, and means to secure together, internested, the said parts of said lens board support member with the said lens board h ld in its said position.

2. A photographic camera of the folding type in accordance with claim 1, wherein the nested frame members include walls between the peripheral flanges, said well, being spaced and parallel when th two frame members are in nested relationship, wherein the means to secure together the parts of the lens board support members in internested relation, consists of a series of screws extending through said walls of said two open frame members that are parallel when the parts are in internestecl relation and wherein tubular spacers surround said screws between said. parallel walls.

3. A photographic camera of the folding type in accordance with claim 1, wherein the nested frame members include walls between the peripheral flanges, said walls being spaced and parallel when. the two frame members are in nested relationship, wherein the to secure together the said parts of the lens board support members in internested relation, consists of a series of screws extending through said walls of said two open frame members that are parallel when the said parts are in internested relation and wherein upper and lower lens board locking members are provided upon said lens board supformation I24 is on gaged the camera bed will be at an angle below port members board to said lens board support members and. which locking members are secured to said lens board support members by a plurality of said screws.

4. A photographic camera of the folding type in accordance with claim 1, wherein the nested frame members include walls between the peripheral flanges, said walls being Spaced and parallel when relationship, and wherein the means to secure together the said parts of the lens board support members in internested relation, consists of 'a series of screws extending through said walls of said two open frame members that are parallel when the said are in internested relation, and wherein there is a bellows mounting plate secured fiatwise against frame members by a plurality of said screws,

5. A photographic camera of the folding type in accordance with claim 1, wherein the nested frame members include walls between the peripheral flanges, said walls being spaced and-pan allel when the twoframe members are in nested relationship, wherein the means to secure together the said parts of the lens members in internested relation, consists of a. ser es of screws extending through said walls of said two open frame members that are parallel when the said parts are in internested relation, wherein there is a bellows mounting plate of open rectangular form, secured fiatwise against the smaller of said two open frame members by a plurality of said screws.

5. A photographic camera of the folding type, in accordance with claim 1, wherein there are upright front support members, wherein each of the lens board support members has two spaced hers is provided with an upright reinforcing mempassing therethrough and also passing through the upright portions of said two open frame members of said lens board support member and extending into the front support members, thereby attaching said lens board support member to the said front support members.

7. A photographic camera of the folding type, in accordance with claim 1, wherein there are upright front support members, wherein each of the lens board support members has two spaced parallel upright walls and wherein each of the and also passing through the upright portions of said two open frame members of said lens board support member and extending into the front support members, thereby attaching said lens board support member to the said front support members, and wherein said studs are threaded and ha e clamp nuts thereon, and where'm said front support members have each a vertical slot, to receive respectively said screws, whereby upon loosening said nuts the entire lens board support assembly may be moved vertically and be held in desired vertical position upon tightening said clamp nuts.

3. A photographic camera of the folding type, in accordance with claim 1, having front support members, each having an upright member at the outside thereof, each of the lens board support members having two spaced parallel up right walls and each of the upright walls of the for removably securing therlens the two frame members are in nested one of said two open.

board support said lens board support members being provided with an upright reinforcing member, having a stud passing therethrough and also passing through the upright portion of said two open fram members of said lens board support member and extending into the members of the front support members, thereby attaching said lens board support member to the said front support members, the said studs being threaded and having clamp nuts thereon, and each front support member having a vertical slot, to receive respectively said. studs, whereby upon loosening said nuts the entire lens board support assembly may be moved vertically and be held in desired vertical position upon tightening said clamp nuts.

9. A photographic camera of the box type, in accordance with claim 1, wherein there is a front standard and a camera box and a bellows between the camera box and the front standard, and wherein there is provided means for connecting one end of the bellows to the front standard, said means including a bellows mounting member '5 carried. by the front standard, and consisting of a rectangular plate having a relatively large opening therethrough so as to provide an open, narrow-walled frame, and an open frame channel member 130, the channel walls whereof engage and hold in face-to-face relation the inner edge of the said member lo and the adjoining edge of the bellows.

OSCAR STEINER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 694,181 Odguist Feb. 25, 1902 1,192,696 Smith July 25, 1915 1,219,801 Borman Mar. 20, 1917 1,833,459 Green Nov. 24, 1931 1,873,927 Goldhammer Aug. 23, 1932 2,005,417 Fuerst Jun 15, 1935 2,165,346 Crurnrine July 11, 1939 2,183,989 Drotning Dec. 19, 1939 2,257,081 Whitman Sept. 23, 1941 2,282,263 Steiner May 5, 1942 2,293,598 Drucker Aug. 18, 1942 2,482,629 Little Sept. 20, 1949 2,502,402 Hineline Mar. 28, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 23,436 Great Britain of 1903 387,249 Germany Dec. 28, 1923 

